Wednesday, 31 January 2007

Uh, oh – it looks like 'tit for tat' politics again

United Future leader Peter Dunne says the predictable reaction from various political quarters to John Key's Burnside speech shows it is going to be politics as usual again this year.

"After the bitterness and divisiveness of last year most New Zealanders had hoped for a more conciliatory political environment in 2007, but the early signs are not encouraging.

"While there is much in John Key's speech to be critical of, there are also some very important points on which there should be broad political agreement and commitment to make progress.

"For example, most people would agree with his comments about dysfunctional families and the risks they pose to a cohesive society.

"Also, it makes sense to encourage greater partnerships between the government and voluntary sectors in addressing these issues, and the call for greater business participation is consistent with the mounting sense of social responsibility within the business sector," he says.

However, Mr Dunne says that instead of focusing on the points of common ground and what could be achieved on those, the political reaction thus far has been predictable and polarised.

"It almost seems to be a debate about whose underclass is bigger.

"New Zealanders have had enough of 'tit for tat' politics, and are looking for real solutions.

"That is especially for decent, hard-working middle New Zealand families who know that whatever the outcome, they will keep paying the bills.

"There is nothing in the reaction to the Key speech to inspire them that 2007 is going to be any different from 2006.

"As far as they are concerned, it just looks politics as usual all over again," Mr Dunne says.

ENDS

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